Fracture of the femoral neck and bone mineral density of the proximal femur.

We measured the bone mineral density (BMD) at three regions of the proximal femur (neck, Ward's triangle, trochanteric) by dual photon absorptiometry in 104 healthy men and 107 healthy women, in comparison with the BMD of the same regions in 33 women with femoral neck fractures.Age-related decrease of BMD value was recognized at three regions in control men and women. Especially the curve for Ward's triangle decreased much faster than other curves and crossed the curve for trochanteric region at the 5th decade in men and 6th decade in women. In women acceleration of the decrease of BMD value at each region was seen after the menopause. Each BMD value of the fracture group was in 95% normal range at each region except several BMD values of transcervical fractures. From the ratio between the femoral neck and Ward's triangle, and the femoral neck and trohanteric region, control group had regular fasion of age-related bone mineral loss, but fracture group showed irregularity.In conclusions the each value of BMD at proximal femur decreases gradually with aging in both men and women. Women have postmenopausal acceleration of bone loss even in cortical bone. It is clear that osteoporotic change at proximal region of the femur is caused by aging.